Le Chat Noir is a Bold Art Experience

Last Friday, the main stage at the National Pastime Theater was transformed into an art studio as several nude figure models posed for a group of people who spent the evening sketching them with pencils and pastels. The same scene will be re-enacted each Friday evening in July from 8:00 pm-9:30 pm as NPT hosts Le Chat Noir as a part of the Naked July Festival. The sessions are modeled after the famous Toulouse-Lautrec salons in Paris in the Nineteenth Century and are moderated by an experienced figure artist named Gary Schirmer.

On this evening, some of the models were posing nude for the first time, and several of the artists were people from the audience who were invited to participate, even though they had no drawing experience. Gary Schirmer provides the easels and the materials for the Le Chat Noir sessions, and he also offers some quick introductory lessons to those who are attempting to do figure studies for the first time. In the spirit of Naked July, some of the artists also chose to be nude including one of the female models who decided to try her hand at sketching after her stint on the modeling platform.

Relaxing Music and a Convivial Atmosphere
From the moment you step into the NPT performance space, you feel that all of the barriers of a traditional art studio have been lifted. Since it is a BYOB event, you are free to bring your favorite beverages and just sit back, relax, observe, or participate as you wish. Zhenia Koval offered live music throughout the evening on June 28, and the dimmed lights created a comfortable environment for those who chose to participate.

All who attend are invited to walk around and talk to the artists and models, but last Friday, nearly everyone decided to do more than merely observe the proceedings. Every easel was in use at one point, and some people tried their hand at both sketching and posing during the evening. The members of the artistic team at National Pastime Theater are striving to create as many opportunities as possible this summer to involve audience members in all phases of the creative process, and the success of the first Le Chat Noir session demonstrates their efforts are bearing fruit.

Naked People 2013
NPT has scheduled a companion piece titled Naked People 2013 on Friday, July 12, to go with Le Chat Noir later that same evening. Naked People 2013 will be held from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm and is billed as an art opening that will showcase the figure work of Gary Schirmer. It is a free event, so interested people may want to come to see Schirmer’s fine work and the NPT performance space during this event. Once they see the art and the inviting environment, they are likely to want to purchase tickets for Le Chat Noir and stay for the evening to become a part of the experience.

After tonight, there are only three remaining Le Chat Noir sessions (July 12, 19, and 26), so time is running out if you want to be a part of the fun. You can find more information about all of the Naked July performances and events by visiting the Naked July web site. You can click here to purchase tickets for any of the remaining Le Chat Noir evenings. You might want to go with a group of friends and make beautiful art together!